From the first issue in 1876 to the contemporary story of Bologna and Emilia-Romagna
Today, May 5, one of my illustrations—created for the 150th anniversary of Corriere della Sera—accompanies an article by Olivio Romanini.
On March 5, 1876, Eugenio Torrelli Viollier published the first issue of Corriere della Sera. His editorial, titled “To the Public,” was a pact with readers. From its early years, the newspaper established itself as one of Italy’s leading voices, combining cultural ambition with a strong commitment to political and social reporting. Over time, it became a central institution in Italian public life, reflecting and shaping the country’s transformations—from the liberal era to the twentieth century, through wars, reconstruction, and the complexities of contemporary society.
On January 30, 2007, Corriere di Bologna made its debut on newsstands, and since then it has reported daily on the challenges of the city and the Emilia-Romagna region.
Corriere della Sera is one of Italy’s most influential and long-standing daily newspapers, founded in Milan in 1876 by Eugenio Torrelli Viollier. From its beginnings, it positioned itself as a modern paper aimed at an emerging urban readership, combining political reporting with cultural ambition. Over the decades, it became a key reference point for Italian public life, closely intertwined with the country’s history: from the liberal era to Fascism, from postwar reconstruction to the economic boom and the complexities of contemporary society. Its pages have hosted some of Italy’s most important writers, intellectuals, and journalists, making it not only a source of news but also a space for cultural production and debate. Today, it remains a major national and international news outlet, evolving across print and digital platforms while maintaining its authoritative voice.
Corriere di Bologna, launched in 2007, is the Bologna and Emilia-Romagna edition of Corriere della Sera. It was created to bring the national newspaper’s editorial standards into a local context, focusing on the specific dynamics of one of Italy’s most culturally and economically vibrant regions. The paper covers politics, urban development, social issues, culture, and everyday life in Bologna, while also connecting these local narratives to broader national and global frameworks. In doing so, it serves as both a mirror of the city and a tool for understanding its ongoing transformations, maintaining a dialogue between local identity and the wider world.
